The Communauté économique et monétaire d’Afrique centrale (CEMAC) has opened a workshop in Libreville, Gabon, aimed at developing a regional energy information system (SIE-CEMAC). The system is designed to centralize and harmonize energy data from member states. The workshop was launched by Nicolas Beyeme Nguema, Commissioner for Economic, Monetary and Financial Policy, in the presence of Léandre Bouloubou, Secretary General of the Gabonese Ministry of Universal Access to Water and Energy, and Rashid Ali Abdallah, Executive Director of the African Energy Commission (AFREC).
The Secretary General of the Gabonese Ministry of Universal Access to Water and Energy, Léandre Bouloubou, emphasized the importance of energy in development, stating that effective planning and measurement require reliable data. He noted that inaccurate data can lead to flawed policies, analyses, and project implementations. Bouloubou encouraged experts to identify challenges that may hinder the operationalization of the system and ensure that the results provide concrete solutions to the realities faced by member states.
Commissioner Nicolas Beyeme Nguema acknowledged that member states already produce energy data, but stressed that the regional system should not be just another database. Instead, it should organize the flow of information between national energy information systems, providing common rules, standards, and tools for monitoring. The CEMAC aims to transform this system into a sustainable and operational device, leveraging its expertise to build a regional system aligned with international standards.
Beyeme Nguema emphasized the need to clarify responsibilities, ensure continuity of resources, and identify institutional responsibilities for the system's success. He noted that without clear responsibilities, budgets, and timelines, the system will be difficult to implement. The Commissioner expressed confidence in the CEMAC's ability to develop a regional system, provided that the necessary conditions are met.
Rashid Ali Abdallah, Executive Director of the African Energy Commission (AFREC), highlighted the importance of reliable data for effective planning, policy-making, and regional integration. He reaffirmed AFREC's commitment to providing technical and methodological support throughout the process, aimed at establishing a functional, sustainable, and useful energy information system for CEMAC and its member states.
The workshop brings together experts from CEMAC member states to develop a concrete roadmap for implementing the regional energy information system. The system is expected to enhance energy planning, policy-making, and cooperation among member states. The CEMAC and AFREC are working together to ensure the system's success and sustainability.
The development of the regional energy information system is a significant step towards improving energy governance and cooperation in the CEMAC region. The system is expected to provide a platform for sharing knowledge, best practices, and resources, ultimately contributing to the region's economic growth and development. The workshop is set to conclude with a clear plan for the system's implementation and operationalization.
Key points
- CEMAC aims to develop a regional energy information system to centralize and harmonize energy data from member states.
- The system is expected to enhance energy planning, policy-making, and cooperation among member states.
- AFREC is providing technical and methodological support to ensure the system's success and sustainability.
